, 1887-07-14
SHOT BY AN OFEICER.

Particulars of the Last Palouse City
Tragedy.
About II o'clrck on the evening OF
the 4th at Palouse City, w. s. Read
er, constable and deputy marshal,
shot and killed Peter Olsen, a SUBJ
contractor of the s. IL p. railroad.
The facts as developed at the cOro-
ner's jury were about as follows: A
crowd of railrOaders were in saloon,
and becoming very boisterous, many
of them demanding liquor without
being able to pay for 1t, the proprie-
tor became alarmed for the safety Of
his property, and called on the dep.
uty sheriff to clear the house. To
accomplish this the deputy called
constable Reader pushed three out
side on the sidewalk, and during the
scuff1e Olsen and the constable fell
to the sidewalk. Olsen got up, and
Reader, evidently believing the en-
tire crewd was going to pile on
top of him before he could
arise, pulled his pistol and fired
two shots at Olsen, who was
about six feet distant. One of the
shots struck Olsen under the right
shoulder blade, and ranging upward
passed entirely through the body,
lodging under the skin of his throat.
He fell, and died before the crowd
realized what had been done. Reader
at once crossed the street to store
to procure more cartridges, having
discovered that only one more charge
remained in the pistol. The crowd
followed, and the proprietor turned
turned the key in the front door.
The railroader loudly demanded adj
mission, and threatened to smash in
the door, whereupon Reader passed
out at the rear of the store, and the
frieudsof Olsen, vowing vengeance,
were admitted. They searched every
nook and corner of the building, but
being unable to find Reader, proceed
ed to the hotel, where dance was
in progress, expecting to find him
there. They broke up the party and
searched the house. They said if
the slayer OF Olsen was not at once
produced they would burn the town.
This threat caused the citizens to
arm themselves, and they informed
the mob that If torch was applied
there would be more killing. In
the meantime Reader, accompanied
by his wife, had procured team
and started for ColfaX where he
arrived about O'Clock Tuesday
morning, and placed himself under
the protection of the sheriff. The
deputy sheriff also came down, and
in company with Sheriff Berry and
Coroner Shaw returned to Palouse
city Tuesday morning, when an in
quest was held. Fifteen witnesses
were examined, but none of them
seemed 70 know much about the
matter, and were very evasive In
their replies, probably preferrlng not
to commit themsel YES in order to
escape being hound over to appear
before the grand jury. OF Olsen lit
tie is known. He was recently jok-
ingly informed by an acquaintance
that there was standing reward of
$4,000 for his apprehension, where
upon Olsen barred his head to show
that he had no scar, as given in the
description of the now famous Cali
fornia Swedish murderer of the
same name. Reader Is barber by
trade, and two weeks ago Dickson &
Crews, of this town, sent to PalOuse
city and induced him to come down
and assist them until after the fourth
On Saturday evening he quit
work at III o'clock, and told Mr..
Crews he believed he would go
home, as he desired to see his wife,
and besides his official services
might be required during the Fourth.
He left for Palouse City the same
night horseback. He Is now In Col
fax, and expresses himself as desir- |
ous of undergoing an examination
before justice, as he wants the thing |